WordPress Stats plugin works differently on 2 sites

I’m confused. I’m using WP 2.8.4 on both sites. I’m using Stats 1.5.4 on both sites. One site is considerably older meaning that both WP and Stats have been upgraded to get to the current versions. The other site is fairly new with WP 2.8.4 being the first version used and Stats 1.5.4 also being the first version used.

I use the same API key on both sites. The sites are hosted by different hosting companies (just in case that makes a difference).

Every 30 days or so, I am required to re-login to get Stats to work on the older site. The newer site does not ask for a login – it just works.

The older site has a “Random hot post” across the top of it. The new site does not have the “Random hot post” anywhere on it.

The older site has an option for switching to view all my WP sites and I can even view my new site through the switching. The new site does not have the switching option.

Someone posted a link to a “Global Dashboard” and that works, but I really would rather access the info from the comfort of my own dashboards.

So, how do I get my sites’ functionality in sync?

But maybe a more important question and concern is why do the two sites act differently when both are running the same versions of WP and Stats?

All help is appreciated.